January/February Favorites | 2017

Happy March guys! How have two months already flown by this fast? It seems like just last week we were preparing all of our poppers for New Year's celebrations and waiting to countdown the seconds until 2017 began. But some how its already March and here I am with a semi-monthly favorites. 

Sidenote: Nearly every product in this favorites post was given to be my friends and family for my birthday and Christmas. So, thanks fam! I love you!

SKINCARE

These past two months I have been taking the time two make sure that my skin is happy and hydrated. With the cold San Franciscan air whipping on my face 24/7, my skin has been so dry, but nothing a good skin care regime can't curve the effects of. Two of my new favorite products I have been using to rehydrate my skin during these cold winter months is the Kiehl's Clearly Correcting Dark Spot Solution and Midnight Recovery Concentrate. I apply the Dark Spot serum in the morning and the Midnight Recovery serum at night right before I moisturize. Not only do these two add an extra layer of moisture to my dry skin but they also have been really helping to reduce my acne scars, an issue which I have been struggling with for years and is finally on the road to recovery thanks to these bad boys. 

Second, on the list of skincare favorites is Origins' Clear Improvement Charcoal Face Mask. For literally forever I have been looking for a mask that would really clean my face but not leave it dry and wrecked by the amount of chemicals in the product. So when my fam got me this one for Christmas I was over the moon.

MAKEUP 

I don't even think words can express how much I love these makeup products. Like ahhhh they are just so great and I love them all so much and how they make my face look!

My NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is definitely one of my favorite concealers of all time, its up there right next to my Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer. I adore this concealer because its so light that you almost forget that you are wearing it at times, but it still has great coverage and is able to cover all my blemishes and scars without looking cakey. If you guys have acne scars or a blemish or two or three, I highly recommend that you give this concealer a try. 

Okay so these next two products are in my makeup bag thanks to my beautiful roommate. For my birthday she gave me a ColourPop highlighter in the shade "Wisp" and a ColourPop super shock shadow in the shade "KathleenLights." I had always been curious about the ColourPop brand and why there was such a cult following around them. But after having    these two gems in my makeup bag for a while, I now understand the hype. They are so creamy and pigmented that it makes application so friggin' easy. I really can't do these products justice but they are so beautiful. You get the point I love them so much.

Lastly, is my new favorite brow product, Anastasia's DIPBROW Brow Pomade, which my best friend gave to me for Christmas. I love Anastasia's Brow Wiz so I figured that I would love this one too and boy was I right. You have to be a little careful when applying this that you are not to heavy handed because a little really does go a long way, but overall this product makes my brows look like a million percent better. So if you're looking for something new to spruce up your brows this is definitely something worth checking out. 

BOOKS, MUSIC, & OTHER STUFF

Now that I am in college I barely have any free time to read for fun. But it's okay I'm making tons of memories and lots of friends so its worth it. But this winter break and I was home away from the thrills and demands of dorm life, I finally had time to read! The book I loved reading most was Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians, which was actually a recommendation from my mom. I don't want to give to much of the plot away but to sum it up really quickly. The book focuses on Asia's wealthiest families who reside in Singapore and all the crazy drama that comes with them, influenced by the world Kevin Kwan the author came from. I loved how this book reads so fast and keeps you hooked until the very last page. 

While I may not have a ton of time to read for fun in college, I do have a lot of time to listen to music while I study, which leads to a constant need for new music. These past two months I have been a really big fan of Bastille's Wild World, this album just has so many great lyrics on it. Besides the fact that Bastille is one of my favorite bands and I would probably listen to a song they wrote about french fries, they always come out with such great pieces of music. 

Secondly, in the music category is John Mayer's new EP The Search for Everything - Wave Two. This EP is just filled to with happy vibes and sweet acoustic melodies. If you're a John Mayer fan and haven't listened to this yet you need to go check it out. Since this dropped on the 24th of February I have probably listened to it at least 20 times. I listen to it when I walk to class or when I'm doing homework, I just makes me so damn happy every single time.

My very last favorite of January/February is Conan Gray. Conan is a YouTuber from Texas who I think I stumbled upon when I was being my nerdy self and watching room decor videos on YouTube. I literally have been watching his videos throughout these last two months and am literally in love every single one. You can see the amount of time and effort he puts into each one, and just how amazingly talented he is at not only art but also music. Also I hardcore related to him when I watched one of his videos, where he mentioned that he considers himself to be a grandpa because I too consider myself to be a grandma. So I felt we were low-key hindered souls in that sense. But seriously if you are looking for a new YouTuber to watch I highly recommend you check him out.

See you real soon. Lots of love. 

-Jackie

Current Favorites | June 2016

Since I haven't done a favorites post this whole year and I find monthly favorites post a little bit daunting to find enough products to collect for I decided a current favorites post would be a fun medium. These last few months I have been loving a ton of different products, so new favorites and some old favorites. 

MAKEUP & SKINCARE

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser - This cleanser has been a staple in my skin care routine for the last six months or so.  After hearing Ingrid Nilsen rave about how this product worked so well for her oily and sensitive skin in her skincare and monthly favorites videos, I knew I had to pick this product up the next time I was in a Sephora. The cleanser is gentle and fragrance-free and a great product to remove excess oil and makeup. The product is also great at cleansing the skin without drying it out or irritating it, which can be surprisingly hard to find in facial cleansers.  No matter what skin type you have this product is worth the checking out.    

Anastasia Brow Wiz - For years now I have seen beauty bloggers and vloggers raving about this cult classic but never got around to buying the product for myself and now that I have I don't understand what was holding me back from purchasing it. This brow pencil has hands down transformed my brows for the better and become a makeup bag staple. The color is a perfect match for my brows (not to warm and not to cool) and the product is easy and QUICK to use which is always handy since I always seem to be in a rush. If you're holding back on trying this product like I was don't, it's worth the money and all the hype. 

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer - I think awhile back I might have put this concealer into a favorites post but I can't help but put it in another one because I love it so much. The Naked concealer is one of my all time favorite concealers, it has a medium to buildable coverage but is not heavy or cakey at all. I find that I only really need to put one layer on the spots and blemishes I want to hide to get my desired coverage. I highly recommend this concealer for anyone looking for a great high coverage concealer. 

Chanel CHANCE EAU FRAÎCHE Perfume - This is my favorite summertime perfume. It's a light easy to wear fragrance and lasts all day. I absolutely adore this perfume and I wrote a full review on this perfume here. 

Essie's A Cut Above - This has to be hands down one of my favorite nails polishes I have ever owned. Every time I wear this color I get so many compliments on my nails from random people telling me they love the color of my nails or that the color suits my personality (*which I will take as a compliment*). If you haven't read it yet I wrote a full review about this nail polish here.

ACCESSORIES

Fossil Virginia Rose Gold Watch - This watch was actually a birthday present from my sister and my mom. They knew I had been eyeing this rose gold fossil watches every time I got to stroll through the jewelry counters and wanted to give me something special since it was my 18th birthday. I love this crystals on the rim of the watches face because they add a little something special to an otherwise basic watch, I wear this watch almost everyday and have found that it pairs great with my overall style.  

Indigo Rd. Kokko Sandal -  I love these wooden soled, brown leather platform heels so FREAKING much! I found these heels at DSW when I was looking for graduation shoes. At first I was a little skeptical because they weren't the wedges I had been eyeing for months but after trying them on and thinking it over for a day I ended up going back to DSW purchasing these beauties instead of the wedges. I like the fact that you can dress these heels up or down for any look and that even though they are a heel they are still really comfortable to walk around in all day.  

Maui Jim Liana sunglasses - These glasses were a graduation gift from my amazing coworkers. They knew I had been eyeing these sunglasses from MauiJim.com and surprised me by buying them for me. I love that these sunglasses are polarized because I often find people looking at themselves instead of at me when they are talking to me and I find it rather amusing. I am beyond thankful for these glasses and my super awesome coworkers.

SPECK CandyShell Grip iPhone Case - So here's the story. On my old iPhone I had a super cute marble print case that I loved so much but it didn't protect my phone when it got dropped. So when I got my new phone I decide I needed to find a case that would a.) look cute and b.) keep my phone protected. I had heard about these cases from my friends and decided to try one out. I honestly love my phone case so much, its a cute pastel pink (one of my favorite colors) and I know that my phone will actually be protected this time. If you're looking for a good strong phone case these are definitely a great option.    

Love, Jackie

Chanel | CHANCE EAU FRAÎCHE

 Chanel Chance Eau Fraîce is 1 of 4 Chanel Chance perfumes which were created to reflect Gabriel Chanel's belief in chance. After a lot of saving up, months of debating, and one last sprits I decided to finally make the plunge and purchase my very first Chanel (or any high-end) perfume. 

The perfume has a fresh and surprisingly sweet (but not sickly sweet) scent to it with notes of citrus, Water Hyacinth and Jasmine Absolute which are highlighted by notes of Amber of Patchouli and Fresh Vetiver. The perfume's longevity is something to note too. I have applied this perfume at the beginning of my day at 9 am and reapplied in the late afternoon. 

The perfume retails for $60 in Sephora and Chanel counters and is definitely worth every penny!

XOXO,
     Jackie

Essie's A Cut Above

 I knew it was love at first sight when I first saw Essie's A Cut Above (or what I refer to as my unicorn polish) in the shop and for the last few months it has been a staple nail polish in my collection. Every time I wear this nail polish I get so many compliments on my nails from my friends and random strangers too. The polish itself is a chunky light pink glitter mixed with a classic transparent top coat, which I have paired with different pinky nude polishes (my favorite being Sinful Colors' Vacation Time) and also wore alone! Either way this polish is gorgeous and a must buy. 

Love,

    Jackie 

Friendsgiving | Florals and A Happy Turkey Day

Thanksgiving is tomorrow! (*eek*) I can't wait for my house to be filled with family and my belly stuffed with food but until then to help ease the wait until the day of food and fun begins, I thought I would show you what I wore to my Friendsgiving dinner earlier this week. Hopefully this might give you some Thanksgiving Day/day to day outfit inspiration.

 But seriously. Turkey Day can you please come sooner? Thanks!

The Look:

I was really digging my hair today and decided I would go all natural instead of trying to style it. That and I am relatively lazy when it comes to doing my own hair and can rarely ever be bothered to do anything besides any updo that requires just a swick and flish. For makeup, I wanted to keep it neutral and tis the season, so I stuck to warm matte browns and shimmery golds for the eyes and topped it off with a feline flick. When it came to choosing my lippie, I opted for my favorite fall shade M.A.C. Viva Glam III which is a beautiful dusty brick rose and suitable for all skin tones in my opinion. 

Finally for my outfit I wanted to keep it cute, cozy, and comfy and opted for this classic floral button up skirt I bought from H&M, paired with my Forever 21 black crop sweater which I layered underneath my favorite green moto jacket. I finished off the look with a pair of tights, which are a must in this weather, and my favorite black booties I picked up forever ago from Target. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,        
Jackie

Bold Lipped Fall Makeup | 2015

In California it is very rare that the seasons are reflected in the weather or nature. While the leaves do change colors and the mornings are colder, by mid day it is already 80 degrees outside and will be like this for the next month and a half 'til fall really takes charge. So in the meantime while I wait to be able to wear my cozy knit sweaters all day without melting into them, I like to trick myself into believing that it really does feel like fall by putting my makeup into full fall gear.

During the fall and winter months bolder darker lip colors are a staple and are always in my bag when I go out. I have especially been loving MAC's Viva Glam III lipstick, which was actually my first ever MAC lipstick purchase and has left me wanting to go back in ASAP and see what other great fall shades they have. The lipstick is a dark dusty brick rose color (if that makes sense) and has a matte finish to it. While it may be slightly drying to the lips it is definitely worth apply and extra layer of lip balm because the color pay off is beautiful and perfect for every skin tone. 

Makeup Used:

Benefit's POREfessional

L'Oreal True Match Concealer in Medium/Deep N6-7-8

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation in Tan Sand

L'Oreal Brow Stylist Plumper in Medium to Dark 380

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

Urban Decay Naked2 Palette

L'Oreal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara

MAC Viva Glam III

Love,

     Jackie

Blogmas Day 2 | Beauty Addict Gifts

Christmas is coming up sooner than we give it credit for which means its time for loads of gift shopping. I am definitely a person who enjoys Christmas shopping because I love that rewarding feeling when you find a gift you know the person you are shopping for will love. I have created three gift guides for you to help give some inspiration to your holiday shopping endeavor. 

I will be releasing a new gift guide every other day for the next seven days and while there are some pricey gifts in the bunch I have tried to fit in gifts in everybody's price range. The first one (today's) is for that beauty addict in your life, you know the one the one that always heads to Sephora as soon as you step into the mall and always has to have the newest beauty products as soon as they come out. The second is for the women in your life who aren't as into makeup and would rather have something else for Christmas. Third will be for the men in your life ranging in everything from cologne to electronics. And lastly, my favorite gift set of all the stocking stuffers gift guide. 

Sidenote: I will being doing these gift guides a little differently than last year. After watching Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup do her gift guide video, I got inspired to do these gift guides with each gift being aimed for a certain girl rather than just being generally targeted at all girls.  

Ipsy Glam Bag Subscription

This first gift is for the girl who always has the newest beauty product or who loves to adventure with her makeup. The Ipsy Glam Bag works just like a magazine and is shipped to your door (or in this case to the person receiving the gift's door) and comes loaded with samples of makeup, hair care products, skin care, and nail polishes for only $10 a month or you can pay $110 at once for a years worth of Glam Bags. To purchase this gift click on the link above to take a quiz personalizing the bag for the person of your choice, then sign up and have it sent right to their door.

Deborah Lippmann Party Mix Nail Lacquer Set

 I think this gift set would be perfect for any girl but especially for the girl who seems to always have a different color on her nails each time you see her. I think these colors are perfect for this time of the year and are suitable for every season too.

GLAMGLOW Gift Sexy Set

For the girl who is always obsessing over her skin this is the set for her. The GLAMGLOW Gift Sexy Set contains three GLAMGLOW masks for each skin's need. The set contains one mask for hydration, another for deep cleaning, and  one more for exfoliation and brightening. While being really great for your skin this gift would make a great pamper night because it is so luxurious. 

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Greta
Okay so maybe it was the name of this lipstick that sold me because I completely loved Greta in the Sound of Music but seriously though I think this lipstick would be great on any skin tone. The color is described as 'wild azalea' basically meaning it is  in between magenta and red. This gift is something every lipstick junkie would appreciate, if not in this color than in one of the other 29 colors, it also makes a really sleek looking gift too because of its magnetic lid so it always stays shut.   

Urban Decay Ten 24/7 Glide-On Pencil Set

Okay so if the girl in your life loves eyeliner just like me she will be so happy to receive this gift set. It has all the usual brown and black shades along with some unusual colors like silver, purple, teal, and bright blue making this a fantastic mix between everyday and fun shades.

TOO FACED Chocolate Bar Palette
This is the perfect palette for both makeup lovers and chocoholics alike. The palette consists of 16 gorgeous neutral matte and shimmery shades and because the palette is formulated with cocoa powder it even smells like chocolate. The palette even comes in a case that resembles a chocolate bar making it even cuter and even more worth the money.

LUSH Christmas Bathtime Favorites Gift Set
If your girl lovers her pamper nights in she will most definitely love this gift. I absolutely love LUSH's products because everything smells so good and their products are so nice on your skin too. This is an amazing bundle of products including bath bombs, bath melts, and bubble bars which are all amazing products, that your girl is sure to love.

  I would love to here what other items you think would make great beauty gifts. 

XOXO,

    Jackie